Vehicle suspension



W. P. WILSON.

VEHICLE SUSPENSION. APPHCAUDN HLED DEC.6|1920.

1 08,674. Patented Man 7, 1922.

3 $HEETS-SHEET I.

awful WFP. WlLSON. VEHECLE SUSPENSION. APPLICATION FILED DEC.6. 1920.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

3 SHhEiS -SHEET 2.

NQ w? aw IMFMUB W. P. WILSON. VEHICLE SUSPENSWN.

APPLICATION mu) DEC.6. 1a

Patented Mar, 7 1922.

A SHLLEE SEMF.

UNITED STATES PATEINT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. WILSON, or wasnme'ron, nrsrnicr or conomsm.

VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-3d B131, 7, 1922.

Application filed December 6, 1920. Serial 10; 428,519.

T0 aZZwhom-it may concern Baitknown that I, human 1 lViLsoX, av c-it-izerr of the United States. residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleSuspensions. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to supporting structures for .rehiole bodies. and it comprises an upper. fra-ine, .frontand rear axles having pivotal connection to adjacent portions of the frame, distance members connected to said front and rear axles, said distance memhers being pivotally connected to said upper frame at points remote from the front and rear and in axialfalineme-nt with the first mentioned pivots, and cushioning members arranged betweensaid upper frame and said distance members.

In the present invention. I hate produced a construction wherein the forces which tend to stress the body supporting frame of an automobile chassis and body mounted thered n ina 'torsioiial manner are eliminated, thus permitting the employment of a lighter and more economical wnstruction of said frame and, body. Iiy means of the present construction, the comfort of passengers in riding is materially 'increased, due to the minimizing of the effect of road shocks and swaying motion incident to inequalities in the road.

In the present- .construction, I' employ means for permitting free limited motion of the axles with respect to the upper lirame or body supporting member, which free motion may take place without sensible changein the deflection of any of thesupporting springs. I; find it advantageous to employ springs in the combination to child-- 'the rear distance member,

the various \parts Figure 6 is, a, transverse vertical sectional view on .line 6 .6"of.Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on line 7-7 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is at ansverse'vertical sectional View on line 8'8 of Figure 1,

.Figure 9 is asimilar View on line 9.-9 of Fi 'ure 1, j Figure 10 is a' detail sectionalw'iew on line 10--10 of Figure 1.," r V Figure 11 is a. detail view-showing a slight modification of the spring construction between the upper frame and the distance; rods, and,

Figure 12 is a similar view of another modification,

'Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l designates the upper frame of wheels 4 and 5.

Referring in detail to Figure 6 of the drawings, the front axle is spaced from and se'curedto the upper frame by. means of an elliptical spring 6. As shown. the spring is secured to the cross member 7 of the upper frame by bolts or other fastening means 8. A plate 10 is carried on the under side of the spring and this plate is provided with a pair of spaced earsadapted to be arranged at the front and rear of the axle; The axle and the ears are provided with registering' (openings adapted to receive a pin or bolt 11,

whereby the axle is'pivotally supported with respect to the upper frame and is permitted to move independently of the frame.

It will. of course, be understood thatthe arrangement of parts may be reversed and the spring. secured rigidly to the axle and pirotally connected to the frame.

.A pair of distance rods 12 are connected to the front axle in any suitable manner. As shown in Figure 2, the ends of the rods may be extended at an angle. as at 13, and

provided with openings for the reception of bolts 14, passing through the axle. The distance rods may be formed of a single piece of metal, )rovided with a transverse portion 15. is shown. the distance rods are connected to a pair of arms 16, which arms are provided with a connecting po'rtion 17. The connecting portion is provided with an opening 18. whereby the distance rods are connected to the upper frame. As shown,

ttally arranged transverse mem-Eer 19 on i which is supporter] a block or member '20,

r 12 employed on the front axle.

.and the distance rods to providedwxth sockets for the reception of the spherical head" 21 of bolt "22. The

spherical, head is retained in tlie' socketby means ofa plate. 23. The opposite end of the bolt is -arran ed in opening 18 (see Figure 7) and reta ned therein by means of Iiut 24. As shown, the bolt is provided with an enlargement 25, 'forming il' shoulder which is adapted to limit the movement of the. member 17 toward the head of the bolt.

The pivot of the distance rod is in 'longi-,

tudinal or axiat alinement with the pivot II of the front axle, whereby the Wheels are permitted to swing freely with respect to the upper frame to a lim tedrextent.

The rear axle is supported in bearings 26,

carried by the distance rods 27, substantiallv 1 similar in construction 'to the distance rods the rear distanre rods extend slightly beyond the rear axle and are connected by a transverse member 28. This transverse member 28 is provided with an enlargementv 29 having an opening therein for the recep tion of a pivot pin 30. The pivot pin passes through openings formed ears 3i, carried by plate 32. The rear spring 33 IS secured to this plate and is rigidly secured to a transverse member 34 of the u per .frame, in any suitable manner, as by olts 35. It will be apparent that the construction provides'an arrangement whereby the rear wheels may swing about the pivot 30 without materially changingthe position of the upper frame.

The distance rods 27 are provided with a connecting member 36 having an opening 37 for the reception ofia bolt 38. similar in constrm-tion to the bolt 22, and provided with a spherical head '39 received in a socket in the member 20, in the manner heretofore described.

lnl igures l to 10 of the shown a spring is employed between the upper frame furnish an elastic support on each side of the main frame.

The springs are arranged opposed to each other. whereby any force acting on them tends to straighten the leaves of one section and rurve'the leaves of the other, thus producing a neutralizing efiect. As shown. thrmain frame is provided with a pair of projw-ting members 40. These members are adapted to receive supporting blocks 41 to whirl; th spring leaves are secured, the upper leaves 42 and the lower leaves 43 being rigidly secured to thrmsupporting block by nu-um of hblts 44. The ends of the springs are scrum-d in rlips 45 carried by the front and war distancimembers. s shown. the fi nt distance members are provided with drawings, I have As shown..

construction wherein a doubleprojecting 'trunnions -16, on which the clips are mounted and the t'llpS at the rear ends of the springs are arrangedon a transverse rod or supporta'i, secured to Ithe rear distance members.

Referring to Figure 10 of the, drawings,

the lowerspring lea is providedwith' acurled end 48, forming an eye for, the recelp tion of-' pin 49, by means of which t e spring issecured'to. the clip. The upper leaf is loosely and-'slidablymountd in the clip as shown, ;the end 50"being arranged above the end of the lower spring.

In Figure, 11 of the drawings, 1' have shown a construction wherein a single side spring is used on each side of tlle vehicle,

adapted to exert a force in the same direction as that exertedby the; distance memberswhen the vehicle passes over uneven ground. The leaf 51 is secured at its center in the same'manner win the form just described, and the ends of the leaf'are secured in clips 52, carried by the triinnions 46 and the transverse rod or shaft 47.

-In the form shown in. Figure 12 of the drawings, the leaf spring 53'is'arranged in thecopposite direction and is adapted to exert a force in opposition to that exerted by. the supporting structure.

noperation, when with the herein-described ture, forces which tend to supporting fr me and the body torsionally are eliminate The front and rear axles are each. supportedattwo points in the. vertlcal plane, passing through the longitudinal center of the frame, whereby the front axle and rear axle may each be independently rotated freely through a limited angle. Rotation of the front and rear axles may be effected without any tendenc to cause deflection or distortion of the rent and rear supporting springs, and 'without affecting the sition of the upper frame. I W hen the side springs are arranged on the vehicle and the distance rods connected thereto; the movement of the ont;or'rear distance members when the vehicle isass-' ing over uneven ground andone o the wheels enters a depression or passes. over an obstruction, is transmitted to the'side spri n and thence to the other side of the distance rods. The side springs are employed to furnish an elastic support on each side of the upper frame. For exam 1e, the vertical movement of the front a e when either wheel passes over an irregularity in the road, is transmitte supporting s stress the body a vehicle is equippedruc- Iltl d through the distance.

madam-the framesa'ndgt -flekibility of the sorbthe shoe sorted to withoutcreased orrelaxed' tension,

irrespeetiresoftheir fi a1may is to me. malty dessert the extent. ofvertical movemeatsiotaheiro aaxle which are transmitpr'ingsk stillsfurth'er re aces tlie'movement O El1 8i 'f1a1i16"dfl:et0 vertical movement of the axle. Similarly, vertical -movements of thecreac-a xle which are transmitted to the franiei it're i-Iiirly reduced.

With a' double'spring-e'mployed, as shown in Figures 1 to 10 of the drawin the downia'ard movement ofone ofthe distance rods tends to flexthe lowerleayes 43 of the spring and straighten the u per-leaves 42, producing a neutralizing e e ct-. vhich tends to aband increase the comfort of passengers. the other two forms of side sprin illustrated, the downward movement of the distance ,rods in each case tends to lace the leaves of the spring under iiitending to diminish rapid motion or jars which would otherwise be transmitted to the frame;

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention. herein shown and described are'to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, siie, and arrangement of parts may beredepartlng from the spirit of'my invention or the scope of the subjolned claims.

' Having thus described my invention. I claim 1. Vehicle supporting means comprising an upper frame. front and rear axles. springs arranged bctwccn said axles and said frame, said springsbeiug pivutallv connected to one of said members and rigidly connected to the. other; a transverse lncnibcr arranged interincdiatc the front and 'rear of the upper frame. distance members secured to said axles; said distance members being pivoted to said tmnsvcrsc mcmbcr in longitudinal aliucment with said first mentioned pivots.

and springs arranged on said upper framev and secured to each (if said distance mcmbcrs.

2; Vehicle body supp rting means. romprising an-upper frame. front. and rear axles. springs arranged between. said axles and said frame, said springs being pivotally connectcd to one of saiil members and rigidly connected to the other. distance members secured to said axles. said distance members being pivoted to said upper frame at points remote from the front and rear of the frame and in longitudinal alincment with said first mentioned pivots, and springs secured to said upper frame and engaging said distance members.

3. in a vehicle suspension. the combina' tion with an upper frame, of front and rear axles. springs arranged betwcen said frame and said axles. said springs being pivotally connected to one of said members and rigidly connected to the at each side of the conne ted to said v otherfmeinbers connected to: said axles and pivoted" to said frame at points remote from tlie' fr'ont iilnd re'aroof said frame and in longitudinalfalinement with said first mentioned pivotsfiand flexiblcconnecting means pivoted to the frame vehicle. said connecting means being connected to "said members intermediate their front and rearends.

4. In a vehicle suspension, an upper frame, front and rear axles, springs arranged .betvveen said frame and said front and rear axles. said springs being pirotally connected to one of said meinbers and rigidly connected i to the other. distance members secured to said axles. said distance members being pivoted to theupper frame substantially cent-rally thereof and in longitudinal alines merit with said first mentioned pivots, and springs arranged on said hpper frame. said springs being secured to saidnpper frame at points intermediate the ends of the springs, the ends of the springs/being secured to said front and rear distance members respectively. p v

5. In a vehi le suspension. an upper frame, front and rear axles, springs arranged between said frame and said front and rear axles. said springs being pivotally connected to one of said members and rigidly connected to the other. distance members secured to said axles, a centrall; arranged transverse member carried by said frame, said distance members'bcing pivotally connected to said transverse members at points in longitudinal alincment with saidfirst mentioned pivots, and springs arranged bctween'said upper. frame and said distance members.

(3. in a vehicle suspension, an upper frame, front and rear axles, springs arranged be-, tween said frame and said front and rear axles, said springs being pi\otally connected w to one of saul members and rigidly connected to theother. distance members secured to said axles, a centrally arranged ransverse member carried by said frame, said distance |nen\la-rs;being pirotally connected to said transverse member. said pivots being in iongitudinal alinement with said first mentioncd pivots'and springs alizvnged on said upper rame. said springs h 'ng secured to said upper frame at points intermflliate the ends of the spring the ends of the springs being secured to said front and rear distance members respectively.

7. In vehicle body siipporting means, an upper frame, front. and rear axles pivotally frame,front and rear d15- tance members secured to said axles and iiroted to said frame at points remote from. 125 the front and rear of the frame, and flexible connecting means pivoted to the frame and to the front and rear distance members intermediate their front andrear ends.

8. In vehicle body supporting means,

an up upper mm, from; and rear axles pivotall upper-frame, front, and rear axles pivotally v connected to s'aid frame, front and rear dis- "connected to said fra'inesfrbnt and rear, l-i5 tance member's sedlred t'osaid axles and tancemembers'secured'to-said axles andpin. pivoted bo-said fraineeatpoints remote from oted be said frame atep'oints remote A-irom 5 the front and rear of the frame, and supple thejient'find rear of the frame, and-springs 15 mental supporting means pivpted to said secured to the frame and secured to the upper fra'ine and to the/front and rear difront' and'rear distance members interme l-i flagnce members at points intermediate their ate their front and rear ends; ends; r In testimony whereof I aflixm si amine. 1o 9. In' vehicle body supporting means, an WILLIAMP. VhL 

